Now, through tragic circumstance we all know his name and have come to realize how much we have lost.

By all accounts he was the type of man we all would be proud to call a friend and neighbor. He was the type of man who raises a strong family and builds a strong community.

Arkell will forever be remembered as a hero for giving his life in the line of duty as a police officer, while serving the community he loved. But, it seems to us that Arkell was already a hero well before Monday's events.

Arkell was already a hero because he went the extra mile to make his community a better place.

He made the community a better place in his role as a part-time police and animal control officer. He made the community a better place by coaching his daughters and countless other youth in lacrosse, teaching them valuable life lessons on and off the field.

Arkell also made the community a better place through his trade of carpentry. For many friends and neighbors, Arkell was the go-to guy when they needed help with a repair.

All of Arkell's different worlds came together during a vigil in his honor at the Brentwood Recreation Department on Tuesday night. A large contingent of law enforcement were joined by a large numbers of Exeter High School athletes and residents from around the area.

They were all equal in their grief and the fact that Arkell had touched their lives in some small way through one of his many roles in the community.

"He was just the type of guy that if you asked him to fix something, he would do it," Herrick said during Tuesday's vigil

Twenty minutes before responding to that fateful call on Mill Pond Road, Arkell was at the home of his childhood friend, Louise Artimovich, making plans to build a temporary railing on Artimovich's deck to ensure that Artimovich's mother wouldn't fall off it.

Arkell's former lacrosse players recalled a man with a hearty sense of humor and encouraging nature.

"He was very supportive of all of us. ... I'll always remember his love for the game and his love for being involved in his daughters' sports," said Erin Ripley, an Exeter High School sophomore.

While Arkell was a friend to many, it's obvious that the roles he cherished the most were being a husband and a father.

"He was a great guy — a family guy, first and foremost," Herrick said.

Arkell served many roles and all of them were for the betterment of his family and the community. When a community loses a person like that, it creates giant hole.

The best way to honor Arkell is to live by the example he set. He knew small kindnesses in life made the community better place.

Take advantage of even the smallest opportunities to make your community a better place. It could be as simple as helping a neighbor or smiling at and acknowledging someone who has had a bad day.

And when you see a police officer please thank them for their service. They put their lives on the line for all of us and they are hurting right now. This small kindness will make a big difference.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Arkell family during this difficult time. Those looking to pay their respects to Arkell can do so at a memorial service being held at Exeter High School on Wednesday, May 21. The service starts at 11 a.m.

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